Obj. ID: 54346
Memorials Memorial to six million martyrs by The Hebrew Sick Benefit Association in the Baron de Hirsh Jewish Cemetery, in Montreal, Canada, 1971
To the main object: Baron de Hirsch Jewish Cemetery in Montreal, Canada
Name of Monument
No official name
What/Who is commemorated?
Six million Jewish Martyrs.
Description
Just beyond the pillars the denote the entrance to the section of the cemetery allocated to the Hebrew Sick and Benevolent Association, is a tall narrow granite stele-type monument set a right angle to the entrance and facing the path into the area. The monument consists of two finished rectangular stones. There is a rectangular horizontal base with an inscription announcing the sponsor of the monument and the date on its face above an inscribed image of a pair of shaking hands (a symbol of the Benefit Society).
The base supports a narrower tall slab inscribed on both sides. The very top of the stone of cut in a way that steps back. The main memorial inscription is on the side facing the path. At the top inscribed images of two flaming torches flank Magen David. At the bottom is an inscribed image of a burning oil memorial lamp.
On the rear are inscribed names of victims and place names (in Roman letters). The places appear to refer to places of death.
Inscriptions
On front of monument, in Hebrew:
לזכר הקדושים
שנהרגו על קדוש השם ה"יד [השם יקום דמם]
זכור אל תשכח
ת' נ' צ' ב' ה [=תהי נשמתם צרורה בצרור החיים]
Translation: In memory of the martyrs who were killed for the sanctification of the name, God revenge their blood. Remember and do not forget! May their souls be bound into the bonds of [eternal] life.
On front of monument, in English:
THIS MONUMENT IS
CONSECRATED AS A MEMORIAL
TO OUR SIX MILLION BRETHREN
WHO PERISHED IN MARTYRDOM
1939 -1945
WE SHALL NEVER FORGET
On front of monument, in Yiddish:
אין אייביקען אנדענק
פון די זעקס מיליאן קדושים
אומגעקומען אין די יארען
1945 - 1939
מיר וועלען זיי קיינמאל ניט פארגעסן
Translation: In eternal memory of the six million martyrs who died in the years 1939 – 1945, We will never forget them.
On front of monument, in French:
EN SOUVENIR ETERNEL
DES SIX MILLIONS MARTYRS
Translation: In eternal memory of the 6 million martyrs.
On the base, in English and Hebrew:
DEDICATED BY
THE HEBREW SICK BENEFIT ASSOCIATION
OF MONTREAL
1971 תשל"ב
On back of monument:
IN MEMORIAM [Magen David] לזכר עול
[followed by a list of names with places of origin]
Commissioned by
The Hebrew Sick Benefit Association of Montreal
sub-set tree: 
E | Eternal light (ner tamid)
T | Torch
O | Ornamentation: | Foliate and floral ornaments
H | Human Figure | Hand | Handshake
|
At the turn of the 20th century, as more Jewish immigrants arrived in Montreal the city's small middle-class Jewish Community needed to meet the burial needs of new, mostly poor, arrivals who had little affiliation with the local congregations. Out of this crisis, the Baron de Hirsch Cemetery was established on an undeveloped expanse of swampland, just outside the city. The Baron de Hirsch Cemetery was planned in 1904 and officially opened in July 1905. The oldest gravestone is dated December 1904 (eight months before the cemetery opened).
The Cemetery includes 16 memorial monuments to Holocaust victims.
“History,” Baron de Hirsch - Back River Cemeteries., https://barondehirsch.com/en/who-we-are/history/ (accessed June 13, 2024)
“Holocaust Memorials of Canada en Souvenir Eternel,” Museum of Family History., https://www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/hmc-02.htm (accessed June 13, 2024)